'''Voroneţ''' is a monastery for women built by the ''Voievod'' of Moldova, St. [[Stephen the Great]] in 1488. The building took 3 months and 21 days to complete. It is one of the famous Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (all these monasteries are frescoed on the outside as well as internally) and is situated within a short distance of the town of Gura Humorului.

+

'''Voroneţ''' is a monastery for women built by the Voievod of Moldova, St. [[Stephen the Great]] in 1488. The building took 3 months and 21 days to complete. It is one of the famous Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (all these monasteries are frescoed on the outside as well as internally) and is situated within a short distance of the town of Gura Humorului.

The monastery was built to fulfill a promise to Stephen's spiritual father and advisor St. [[Daniel the Hermit]], who had lived in a cell in the area, after a victory in battle over the Ottoman Turks. Upon his death, St. Daniel was buried in the monastery church with the exception of his right index finger which was encased in silver and sent to [[Putna Monastery (Bucovina, Romania)|Putna Monastery]].

The monastery was built to fulfill a promise to Stephen's spiritual father and advisor St. [[Daniel the Hermit]], who had lived in a cell in the area, after a victory in battle over the Ottoman Turks. Upon his death, St. Daniel was buried in the monastery church with the exception of his right index finger which was encased in silver and sent to [[Putna Monastery (Bucovina, Romania)|Putna Monastery]].

Revision as of 21:06, April 7, 2005

Voroneţ is a monastery for women built by the Voievod of Moldova, St. Stephen the Great in 1488. The building took 3 months and 21 days to complete. It is one of the famous Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (all these monasteries are frescoed on the outside as well as internally) and is situated within a short distance of the town of Gura Humorului.

The monastery was built to fulfill a promise to Stephen's spiritual father and advisor St. Daniel the Hermit, who had lived in a cell in the area, after a victory in battle over the Ottoman Turks. Upon his death, St. Daniel was buried in the monastery church with the exception of his right index finger which was encased in silver and sent to Putna Monastery.

Frescoes

The frescoes were painted during the reign of one of Stephen's successors, Petru Rareş, between 1534 and 1535 at the request of the Metropolitan of Moldova, Grigore Roşca. The names of the artists are unknown except for one master painter, Marcu, but the term Voronet Blue, a pigment created using lapis lazuli, has entered the artistic lexicon alongside Titian Red. Probably the most accomplished painting at Voroneţ and indeed in all of Moldova is that of the Last Judgement on one end wall of the monastery church. Another famous painting is that of Jesse's Tree, showing the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Due to the high quality of the frescoes at Voroneţ, the church, dedicated to St. George the Trophy-bearer has become known as the Sistine Chapel of the East.